British tourists continue to dominate Spanish market

During July 2014, Spain welcomed more than 1.9 million UK visitors, making the UK the largest international tourism market to the country and representing 23 per cent of all international tourists.

The monthly figure represented a year on year increase of 4.6 per cent.

In July 2014, France was the second strongest inbound tourism market to Spain, accounting for 17 per cent of all international visitors, a 12.4 per cent year on year increase.

In terms of tourism expenditure in Spain, July 2014 saw a total spend of €8.1 billion, up 4.5 per cent year on year.

The UK accounted for the largest part (19.6 per cent), followed by Germany (13.1 per cent) and France (10.8 per cent).

Cumulatively since January 2014, Spain has welcomed over 36.3 million international tourists, a rise of seven per cent year on year, including over 8.4 million UK visitors (up 5.5 per cent).

Tourism expenditure in Spain from January 2014 to the end of July 2014 has also grown by seven per cent to €34.5 billion, with the UK accounting for 19.7 per cent (up 7.1 per cent), followed by Germany (15.8 per cent) and the Nordic countries (10.6 per cent).

During July 2014, 75 per cent of all international visitors to Spain arrived by plane (up three per cent) while road access accounted for 23 per cent of all arrivals, a year on year increase of 13.1 per cent.

Whilst most visitors opted for hotel accommodation (57 per cent) in July 2014, rented accommodation saw a year on year increase of 14.1 per cent and accounted for 13.6 per cent of visits.

Cumulatively since January 2014, hotels were the accommodation of choice for 64.4 per cent of visitors.